Complementary and Integrative Approaches for ADHD

Surveys estimate that as many as 9 percent of American children and 4 percent of adults have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although stimulant medications have been shown to be helpful for at least 70 percent of children with ADHD, many adults and children use complementary health approaches such as omega-3 fatty acids, melatonin, herbs and other dietary supplements, special diets, neurofeedback, and several mind and body practices, including acupuncture and meditation to control ADHD symptoms. Many of these complementary health approaches have been studied for ADHD, but none has been conclusively shown to be more effective than conventional therapies.

This issue of the digest provides information on what the science says about some of these complementary approaches for ADHD.